The Start of An Invasion
devotedscholar:
Gripping his side as if it might stop the bleeding (he knew it wouldn’t), a flash of pink caused him to step back a bit. Pink, followed by more red. Erk stumbled forward with a painful inhale, but she was only injured - not downed. Not yet.
A scream. Louise. That was right. His thinking was fuzzy from pain. Breathing still. Both of them. Good. She was telling them to leave. He sucked in a shaky breath, forcing himself to calm down. He couldn’t do that - no here, not now. He had the feeling somehow it’d not make a difference - there wasn’t anywhere for them to go. Even if he could hobble the two of them away, then what? There was also a strange, nagging feeling - what was it? Perhaps it was the fault of the wound, but colours were… “Wait-”
Whatever sort of protest was lost - forgotten - at the sound of steel meeting flesh. That didn’t sound good. His hand seemed to move on instinct to his chest - he was the one who had been stabbed. That was even worse. There was an uncomfortable sound as the myrmidon slid his sword out. That seemed enough of a catalyst for his legs to give out and he fell to his knees, one hand shakily supporting him from falling over completely, the other still holding onto his side.
His face was wet, he thought. Was it sweat? Tears? Couldn’t tell. Probably both. He’d promised to protect her. (Did he? He couldn’t remember anymore.)
Every breath hurt. Did it? There was a stinging numbness, but he also thought himself in pain. (How frustrating to not be able to parse ones own feelings easily.)
Vision was blurry. Couldn’t tell why. (It was quite early in the morning, so it wasn’t too bright out, yet. That had to be why.)
It started going dark.
Erk hoped Louise wouldn’t be too cross with him for not listening to her.
-> @sunisoleil
the screams of the lady rings throughout; and though the air was littered with pain and the bloodied scent of musk, it was clear as day to soleil. soon after comes the despondent twang of a bowstring, and the untimely miss as the arrow flies wildly of course; the imperial soldier does not falter in their movements. it’s enough to seed fear in her heart and get her back up to her feet; and she springs— holds her side tight as red soaks and stains her once-white gloves. the darkness seems to blink; encompassed by blood and brutality, shoving the world further into the night.
she hears the mage cry out; and she lurches forward— her heart sings screams at her to do something. her tongue, once wet with pretty words and sweet nothings goes dry; devoid of water as she grates it against the top of her mouth, ultimately tasting the roughness of desert sand. amber eyes begin to dull as they weigh; downcast, watching as the mage crumbles to the ground, meeting his own blood that had soaked the earth.
the slickness of blade against blood was utmost disgusting, and the squelch just furthered soleil’s repulsion. it wasn’t as though this was the first time she’d seen such a scene, nor the second, or third, but her stomach wound itself into knots and bile rose like the water of an overflowing dam in her throat. her face twists into desperation as she faces the mage, wordless as his cheek falls to the ground—there was nothing more she could do.
so she doesn’t do anything.
instead, she runs towards the woman; ignores her screams and shouts of protest as much as she can— and leads her away. there’s a desperate hold soleil has on her arm; and while she tries her best to curl her lips upwards, her cheeks and eyes furiously blink back tears. she hated this.
* ˚ ✦ fin.
















